Box construction



Nov. 19, 1929. MYERS 1,736,720

BOX CONSTRUCTION Filed Oct. 9, 1926 4 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR ATTORN EY Nov. 19, 1929. J. R. MYERS BOX CONSTRUCTION Filed Oct. 9, 1926 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 A ff W W 1 w a w 2 T 5 m n //M, f 7 a {Z w a "0/ LI) 2 @ZY A g V m h i, a g u. 1 4 1 4 fin 4 h a 2 L 1 4 4 m M W 4 9 2 Z Z J: 1 g ,4 MM 2 4 wad z 4 wi mW Nov. 19, 1929. MYERS 1,736,720

BOX CONSTRUCTION Filed Oct. 1926 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Nov. 19, 1929. J. R. MYERS 1,736,720

BOX CONSTRUCTION Filed Oct. 9, 1926 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVEN1OR ATTORNEY Patented Nov. 19, 1929 PATENT OFFICE JOSEPH IR. MYERS, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS BOX CONSTRUCTION Application filed October 9, 1926. Serial No. 140,501.

This invention relates to certain novel improvements in box constructions and more particularly to a folding box and has for its principal object the provision of an improved construction of this character which will be highly efficient in use and economical in manufacture.

This invention is directed to an improvement in boxes of the foregoing type which will prevent the destruction of the so-called locking flaps provided on so-called automatic boxes. Heretofore these locking flaps have been rendered useless when the box was set up due to the fact that it was necessary to pull these locking flaps upward and lift them over the corner flaps as the box was being set up. This resulted in the destruction of these flaps since the stiff cardboard was broken or badly distorted and since it is necessary that the locking flaps maintain a' firm grip on the corner flaps it is readily apparent that they could not perform this function after they had been broken.- In addition to this, these I looking flaps when in this broken condition 5 would give the box an unsightly appearance. Further due to the fact that the locking flaps failed to retain the corner flaps, difficulty was encountered in maintaining the box in distended position. Therefore it is the salient object of my invention to provide a construction which will enable a foldable box to be distended into useable condition in a manner which will preserve the utility of the locking flaps.

Among the several objects of the invention is the provision of a box of this character which is capable of being folded flat for convenient transportation and capable of being readily distended into box form automatically locking itself in distended position.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a box of this character havingprovisions for permitting ready distention of the box. while at the same time affording the necessary reinforcement when in distended position.

A further object of the invention .is the provision of a box having formed in certain walls thereof a line of weakened unionperreference to the accompanying drawings illustrating the preferred form of my invention. and in which:

I 60. Fig. 1 1s a perspectlve new of a box embodying the invention.

Fig. 2 is a blank from which the box illustrated in Fig. 1 is formed.

- Fig. 3 is a plan view of the blank showing certain side walls thereof arranged in fiat position upon the major portion of the blank.

Fig. 4 is a plan view of the blank illustrated in Fig. 2 showing the members thereof in their respective positions.

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of a box illus-. trating a modified form over that shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary perspective view illustrating the method of distending the box into box form.

Fig. 7 is a blank from which the box illustrated in Fig. 5 is formed. 7

Fig. 8 is a plan view of the blank showing certain side walls thereof arranged'in flat position upon the major portion of the blank.

Fig. 9 is a plan view of the blank illustrated in Fig. 7 showing the members thereof in their respective positions.

Fig. 10 is a perspective view of a box illustrating a modified form of construction over that shown in Fig. 5.

Fig. 11 is a blank from which the box illustrated in Fig. 10 is formed.

, Fig. 12 is a plan view of the blank showing certain side walls thereof arranged in flat position upon the major portion of the blank.

Fig. 13 is a plan view of the blank illus- .trated in Fig. 11 showing the members thereof in their respective positions.

Fig. 14 is a perspective view of a box showing a modified form of construction over that illustrated in Fig. 10.

Fig. 15 is a blank from which the box illustrated in Fig. 14 is formed.

Fig. 16 is a plan view of the blankshowing certain side walls thereof arranged in flat position upon the major portion of the blank.

Fig. 17 is a plan view of the blank illustrated in Fig. 15 showing the members thereof in their respective positions.

'The form illustrated in Figs. -1 to 4'inelusive comprises a folding paper box preferably made of chip lined box board or other analogous material. This box is generally indicated at 20 and is formed from the blank illustrated in Fig. 2. This blank, Fig. 2, comprises a bottom section 21 and marginal portions 22 providing the side and end walls 23 and 24, respectively. The marginal portions 22 comprise the marginal corners 25 which are joined to the side and end walls by the usual creases 26. The side and end walls are defined from the bottom 21 by score lines 27 which facilitate movement of the side and end walls in distended position. The marginal corners 25 include triangular cut out portions 28 which are adapted to be disposed beneath the locking flanges 29 in-parallel alignment with the folds 30 thereof. These locking flanges 29 are formed as a continua tion of the end walls 23 and are creased as at 31 to permit folding of these locking flanges upon the end walls with the margmal corners 25 disposed therebeneath. By providing the cut out portions 28 there is defined extended lips 32 which receive adjacent limb portions 33 of fastening staples 34 of any approved construction. The opposite limb portions 35 of these fastening staples penetrate through the locking flanges and the end walls and it will be thereby seen that certain limb portions, namely the limb portions 33 of the staples connect the marginal corners to the end walls and the other limb portions,

namely 35, connect the locking flanges to the end. walls. The marginal corners have formed therein lines of weakened union, as at 36, which extend diagonally with respect to the marginal corners toward the'corners 37 thereof. After the blank has been formed as shown in Fig. 2 the side walls 24 are folded inwardly upon the bottom'31 while the end walls are in alignment with the bottom. The locking flanges 29 are now folded upon the marginal corners of the end walls and are secured in such position through the medium of the staples 34. Before folding the blank in the position illustrated in Fig. 4 there is formed in the marginal corners and the end walls transverse lines of weakened union as at 37-. It will be noted that the diagonal lines of weakened union 36 meet the lines of weakened union 37 at the inner end of the edges 38 of the extended tween the-thumbs and the index fingers and then by slightly bending the locking flanges backwardly on their lines of weakened union the locking flanges will be elevated in a substantially horizontal position to permit the marginal corners to fold upon themselves on their score lines by slightly pushing the end walls toward each other. marginal corners in folded position beneath adjacent portions of the locking flanges and after this has been accomplished the locking flanges are released and automatically drop down into locking position with the mar inal corners thus folded between the loc ing flanges and the end walls. To place the box in the position illustrated in Fig. 4 it is only necessarv to slightly pull or draw both of the end walls away from each other. This pulling or drawing releases the marginal corners and permits them to unfold and as these marginal corners unfold they automatically operate to fold the side walls upon the bottom of the box.

While I have herein indicated that the looking flanges and their associated parts are associated with the end walls, it is manifest that they may be equally associated with the side walls without destroying their utility and I do not, therefore, want to be limited to the association of the locking flanges with o the end walls.

The above description relating to theboxes only the description of the blanks will be set forth.

Referring to Figs. 5 and 7 to 9 inclusive I have illustrated a slightly modified form of construction which consists in providing the marginal corners 39 with attaching flanges 40 defined from sections 41 of the marginal corners by lines of weakened union 42 which extend parallel with respect to the outer edges 43 of these attaching flanges. These lines of weakened union are adapted when folded in position upon the end walls 23 and with the marginal corners folded upon themselves on their crease lines 44, to coincide with the lines of weakened union 45 of the end walls 23. WVhen the locking flanges 29 of this .box are folded upon the marginal corners and end walls of the box, 2

Fig. 9, the same is secured in this folded position through the medium of staples 46 of any approved construction.- By attaching the marginal corners to the end walls and locking flaps as above described it will be apparent that when pressure is applied to the locking flaps for folding the box in distended position this selective attachment will prevent the marginal corners from becoming ruptured by reason of the pressure attached thereto. In this form of construc- This disposes the 100 and, therefore, in the description of these tion it is to b'e noted that the edges 47 of the marginal corners, when 1n their proper folded position will coincide with the fold lines 48 of the end walls so that when 'the end walls and side walls are forced into distended position the sections 41 of the marginal corners will bear on'the fold line and thus function to force the side walls into distended position and also serve to reinforce the end walls by stiffening the same.

The box in this form of construction is folded into and from distended position in the same manner as set forth with reference to the box illustrated in Fig. 1.

In Figs. 10 to 13 I have illustrated a further modified form of construction over that. shown in Figs. 1 and 5. In this form of construction it will be noted that the lines of weakened union 49 of the end walls terminate at their extremities into the fold line 50 of the locking flanges 51 and that the marginal corners 52 are provided with segmental lines of weakened union 53 which, when the marginal corners are folded upon themselves and upon the end-walls, coincide with the end portions 54 of the lines 49. The

construction of this box is otherwise the same as that set forth with reference to the box shown in Fig. 7 v with the exception that the triangular cut out portions 28 are omitted and the segmental lines of weakened union 53 substituted therefor. In this form of construction, Fig. 11, it will be noted that the lines of weakened union 55 of the marginal corners terrninate at their outer ends into the extremities 56 of the segmental lines 53.

In Figs. 14 to 17 inclusive I have illustrated a still further modified form of construction over that shown in Figs. 1 to 4 inclusive and in this form of-co'nstruction it will be noted that the lines of weakened'union57 are sub-- stantially similar to the lines of weakened union shown in Fig. 11 and'that the corner flaps from their extended lip portions are provided with segmental lines of weakened union 58 which are adapted to coincide with the ends 59 of the lines 57 when the marginal corners are folded upon the end walls.

In all of the forms of construction it is pointed out that by the selective association of the marginal corners with the end walls rupturing or buckling of the marginal c'orners is, to a great extent, eliminated, this being due to the fact that the locking flanges are not only attached to the end walls but also to the marginal corners and that when the marginal corners are in distended position they are folded upon themselves thus providing a double stiffness at the corners of the box. a

While I have illustrated and described the preferred form of construction for carrying my invention into effect, this is capable of variation and modification without departing from the spirit of the invention. 1,

therefore, do not wish to be limited to the precise details of construction set forth, but desire to avail myself of such variations and modifications as come within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to protect by Letters Patent is 1. A foldable box formed from a blank having marginal portions providing side and end walls and having marginal corners scored diagonally whereby each marginal corner may be folded upon itself in triangular formation, each of said marginal corners having segmental lines of weakened union formed therein, and said end walls having lines of weakened union formed therein with end portions thereof adapted to coincide with the segmental lines of weakened union, locking flaps forming a continuation of the end walls, and means for securing said locking flaps to portions of the marginal corners and to the end walls whereby said locking flaps" will automatically dispose themselves in looking position over the marginal corners when folded.

2, A foldable box including a blank provided with marginal corners providing side and end walls adapted to be folded substantially at right angles with respect to the major portion of the blank and having marginal corners scored diagonally whereby said marginal corners may be each folded upon themselves in triangular formation, said marginal corners having cut out portions providing extended lip portions, lines of weakened union formed in the marginal corners and defining the extended lip portionsfrom the marginal corners, lines of weakened union formed in the end walls and having end portions adapted to coincide with the first named lines of weakened union when the marginal corners are folded upon the end walls, looking flaps formed on the end walls and adapted to be disposed thereupon, and means for connecting the locking flaps to the extended lip portions and the end wallsv when the side walls are folded upon the major portion of the box, said locking flaps adapted to automatically dispose themselves over the marginal corners when said box is in extended position.

In testlmony whereof I aflix my signature.

- JOSEPH R. MYERS. 

